Americans Want Opera, Not Jazz or Tin Pan Alley

1920--

OPERA IN SIOUX FALLS

From 43 towns special trains brought cattlemen and their and families to Sioux Falls, S.D., one November night, to hear Grand Opera. Sheep herders, farmers, Indians joined the procession moving toward the hall where the music was to be given. Flivvers and big cars added their occupants to the happy crowd.

And they were happy, and they enjoy their feast of song. For months intensive preparation had been going on for the great day. Lectures were given. Boys and in school studied the stories of operas. Phonographs were bought or rented, records were purchased and listened to with attention. Do Americans like good music? They do. Would they rather have it than cheap, vulgar stuff, jazzy, tinpanny, and ear-wearing? They would.

There are people who are bored by heavy music. That is but natural. But much music which has been foisted upon audiences as "classical" in years past has not been very good music. It has not been human. Just as instinctively will people steer clear of ponderous books and problem plays, which may have their merits for the intellectual few, but are not food for the uncultured many.

When was Shakespeare, well presented, given to an empty house, an unappreciative one? The untutored man may not get so much out of his Shakespeare as the cultured one, but his mind goes straight as a homing bird to the great humanity of the greatest poet.

As the music-managers learn this vital truth about all art, and begin to apply it to music, they find that the composers and opera-builders who understand humanity, its emotions, its springs of action, reach human heart in the same way. Give people tuneful, human music, and they will come, as in this case, 450 miles to hear it.

--Olean Evening Herald, Olean, New York, December 1, 1920, page 2, editorial.